See the University bulletin for more information on General Education Requirements.

Suggested Sequence for Physics Majors (Courses In Boldface Are Required). Click here for pdf of table.

Course Number

Description

Credits

Semester 1 (Fall)

Phy 140/142 or Phy 141

Intro Mechanics

3

Phy 145 or 106

Lab

1

Mat 112 or Mat 118

Calculus

4

Chm 120 or Chm 130

General Chemistry I

3

Chem 124

Lab

1

Gen Ed, Bio or Computer Science

3-6

Course Number

Description

Credits

Semester 2 (Spring)

Phy 150/152 or Phy 151

Intro Electromag.

3

Phy 155 or 109

Lab

1

Mat 113 or Mat 119

Calculus II

4

Chm 121 or Chm 131

Gen Chemistry II

3

Chem 125

Lab

1

Gen Ed

3-6

Semester 3 (Fall)

Phy 240 or Phy 241

Modern Physics

3

Phy 245

Lab

1

Phy 235

Intro Math Methods In Physics

3

Mat 214

Calculus III

4

Gen Ed or Science Elective

3-6

Semester 4 (Spring)

Phy 250

Waves

3

Csi 201

Introduction to Computer Science

4

Mat 220 or Math Elective

Linear Algebra

3

Science Elective

3

Gen Ed

3-6

Semseter 5 (Fall)

Phy 320

Mechanics

3

Phy 440

Quantum Mechanics I

3

Mat 314, Etc

Math Elective

3

Physics Elective

3

Research (Phy 497) or Science Elective

3

Semester 6 (Spring)

Phy 460

Thermo And Statistical Physics

3

Phy 450

Quantum II

3

Phy 335Z

Advanced Lab

3

Physics Elective

3

Research or Gen Ed or Science Elective

3

Semester 7 (Fall)

Phy 340

E&M I

3

Phy 497

Research Project

3-6

Physics Elective

3

Physics, Math or Sci Elec

3

Gen Ed or Elective

3

Semester 8 (Spring)

Phy 350

E&M II: Optics

3

Phy 497

Research Project

3-6

Physics Elective

3

Physics, Math or Sci Elec

3

Gen Ed or Elective

3

Honors Program

The honors program in physics is designed for outstanding students enrolled in the general program.

Students may apply for admission to the honors program by submitting a letter of request to the department chair no later than April 15 of the sophomore year (for admission in the fall) or November 15 of the junior year (for admission in the spring). Junior transfers may apply at the time of their admission to the University. Primary emphasis will be placed on indications of academic ability and maturity sufficient for applicants to pursue with distinction a program involving independent research.

The minimum requirements for admission follow:

Completion of A Phy 140N, 150N, 240, 250 or their equivalents;

An overall grade point average of 3.30;

A grade point average of 3.60 in physics courses required for the major;

Written recommendations from at least three faculty members, one of whom, preferably, should be from outside the Department of Physics.

Students in the program must maintain both a minimum grade point average of 3.30 overall and of 3.60 in physics courses taken to satisfy major requirements during the junior and senior years. The progress of participants in the honors program will be reviewed at the end of the junior year by the Departmental Honors Committee. Students not meeting the standards above at that time may be precluded from continuing in the program during their senior year.

Students in the honors program are required to complete a minimum of 72 credits as follows: the 66 credits specified for the general program in physics; 3 credits of Honors Seminar in Physics (A Phy 498); and 3 credits of Research and/or Independent Study in Physics (A Phy 497). The independent study must include an honors research project culminating in a written report by the end of the student's last semester.After completion of the requirements above, the records of candidates will be reviewed by the Departmental Honors Committee.

After consideration of overall academic record, performance and accomplishments in the independent study project(s), the quality of the Honors Seminar, and the evaluations of departmental faculty members who have supervised these activities, a recommendation for or against a degree with honors will be made by the committee to the departmental faculty. The final recommendation will be made by the departmental faculty and transmitted by the chair.

Combined B.S./M.S.

ProgramThe combined B.S./M.S. program in physics provides an opportunity for students of recognized academic ability and educational maturity to fulfill integrated requirements of undergraduate and master's degree programs at the beginning of the junior year. A carefully designed program can permit a student to earn the B.S. and M.S. degrees within nine semesters.

The combined program requires a minimum of 138 credits, of which at least 30 must be graduate credits. In qualifying for the B.S., students must meet all University and college requirements including the requirements of the undergraduate major described previously, the minimum 60-credit liberal arts and sciences requirement, general education requirements, and residency requirements. In qualifying for the M.S., students must meet all University and college requirements as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin, including completion of a minimum of 30 graduate credits and any other conditions such as a research seminar, thesis, comprehensive examination, professional experience, and residency requirements. Up to 12 graduate credits may be applied simultaneously to both the B.S. and M.S. programs.

A Phy 519 may be substituted for A Phy 335 or 335Z in meeting the B.S. requirements, enabling Phy 519 to be one of the graduate courses applied simultaneously to the undergraduate and graduate programs.

Students are considered as undergraduates until completion of 120 graduation credits and satisfactory completion of all B.S. requirements. Upon meeting B.S. requirements, students are automatically considered as graduate students.

Students may apply to the Graduate Committee for admission to the combined degree program in physics at the beginning of their junior year or after the successful completion of 56 credits, but no later than the accumulation of 100 credits. A cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher and three supportive letters of recommendation from faculty are required for consideration.Return to parent page.

Suggested Sequence for 3/2 Majors

(Courses In Boldface Are Required)

Note that transfer is only available to a limited number of programs, and that a minimum gpa of 3.2 is required.

Course Number

Description

Credits

Course Number

Description

Credits

Semester 1 (Fall)

Semester 2 (Spring)

Phy 140 or Phy 141

Intro Mechanics

3

Phy 150 or Phy 151

Intro Electromag.

3

Phy 145

Lab

1

Phy 155

Lab

1

Mat 112 or Mat 118

Calculus

4

Mat 113 or Mat 119

Calculus II

4

Chm 120 or 130

GenChemistry I

3

Chm 121 or 131

Gen Chemistry II

3

Chm 124

Lab

1

Chm 125

Lab

1

Language, Gen eds

3

Gen Ed

3

Semester 3 (Fall)

Semester 4 (Spring)

Phy 240

Modern Physics

3

Phy 250

Waves

3

Phy 245

Lab

1

Csi 204, or other CS

Computer Science

3

ICsi 101 or other CS

Computer Sci

3

Mat 220

Linear Algebra

3

Mat 214

Calculus III

4

Mat 311 (or 314)

ODE

3

Phy 353

Microprocessor

3

Gen Ed

3-6

Gen Ed or Elective

3

Semseter 5 (Fall)

Semester 6 (Spring)

Phy 320

Mechanics

3

Phy 460

Thermo And Statistical Physics

3

Phy 340

E&M I

3

Phy 415

Electronics

3

Mat 367, 314, Etc

Math Elective

3

Phy 440, Etc

Physics Elective or substitute

3

Phy 335Z, 350, 450, Etc

Physics Elective

3-9

Phy 462

Materials

3

Gen Ed

3-6

Gen Ed

3-6

See the University bulletin for more information on General Education Requirements.

Minor in Physics

A minimum of 18 graduation credits as follows: A PHY 140 or 141, 150 or 151, 240 or 241, and 250; and at least two courses with an A PHY prefix at the 300-level or above.

Minor in Electronics

A minimum of 20 graduation credits as follows: A PHY 140 or 141, 145, 150 or 151, 155, 240 or 241, 415, 416, and 353.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Professor Jonathan Petruccelli and Ph.D. student Tomnoy Chakraborty published a new paper describing both theoretically and experimentally that one can reconstruct sharper images while reducing the impact of noise by distributing the acquisition time and then appropriately combining intensity measurements taken with a diversity of source sizes.